r/canadaguns • u/FrozenReesesPieces • Mar 25 '26

Application / Regulation advice Maverick 88 security hunting

So im new to firearms (like brand new) and I was gifted a mavy 88 security model, fixed smooth barrel 12 gauge (what i was told) and im on a budget, but plan on taking my hunting course for this year's seasons. Just wondering what could I humanely go for with this shotgun? What kind of game would work out?

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u/draftstone Mar 25 '26 edited Mar 25 '26

A 12 gauge shotgun, you can hunt anything. It has a smooth bore, so you can take rifled slugs and hunt any big game (moose, bear). For deer, rifled slug or buck shots will do. For any birds/small game, depending on the type of birds, there is some shots of the proper size.

I would assume your shotgun is a 3'' chamber, so you can take anything in 3'' or 2.75'' (google tells me maverick 88 are 3'', but it should be written on your action/barrel)

Also, you have interchangeable chokes, look those up, for turkey for instance, you want an extra full choke, for rifled slug, cylindrical would be best!

The hunting course will tell you all that, but a 12 gauge shotgun is probably the most versatile gun there is! There is nothing in Canada you can't hunt with a 12 gauge shotgun. You won't take 400 yards with a shotgun, it is not made to hunt at a long distance, but it can humanely kill any size game as long as you are within proper range.

Edit: I had missed the "security" model part. So forget the interchangeable chokes, you have a fixed cylindrical choke. You can still hunt with shots with a choke that is too open, just have to reduce the ranges. For rifled slug, it is perfect. But you can buy a separate barrel that will have interchangeable chokes for way cheaper than buying another shotgun or a rifle. Barrels are very easy to swap on pump shotguns.

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u/Sco0basTeVen Mar 25 '26

Depends where you are. You can’t take moose with a shotgun in BC. OP should check their local regs before they go out and blast a moose with a security shotgun like you suggest.

And with your regards to “there’s nothing in Canada you can’t hunt with a shotgun” is also false. You cannot shoot Bison, Caribou, Elk, mountain goat or mountain sheep with a shotgun in BC. Cmon now.